the application process
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National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Presents…
© NASFAA 2008
The Application ProcessThe Application Process
Module 2Module 2
Slide 2 - 2 © NASFAA 2008
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is central element of federal student aid application process
• FAFSA data are used to:
– Compute the expected family contribution (EFC)
– Confirm certain student eligibility criteria via database matches with federal agencies
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Slide 2 - 3 © NASFAA 2008
Supplemental Forms and Applications
• Required by some states and institutions to determine eligibility for state and institutional aid programs
• Cannot be required to determine Title IV eligibility, except when:– Awarding Leveraging Educational Assistance
Partnership (LEAP) Program funds
– Verifying FAFSA data
– Resolving conflicting information
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid
There are multiple versions of the FAFSA:
• The paper FAFSA
• FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)
• FAA Access to the CPS Online
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Obtaining the Paper FAFSA
Students and parents can obtain paper FAFSA by:
• Calling Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (or 1-800-
433-3243)
• A maximum of three paper FAFSAs may be requested
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Paper FAFSA
• General information (unnumbered page 1)
• Instructions for certain questions (pages 2 and 3)
• “Tips” information about the process (page 4)
• 109 questions in 7 steps, with certifications and signature spaces (pages 5 to 10)
• Pre-addressed envelope
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Electronic FAFSAs
FAFSA may be filed electronically via:
• FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)
• FAA Access to CPS Online
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FAFSA on the Web
• FOTW—www.fafsa.ed.gov• Available in English and Spanish• Real-time FAFSA submission and updates• Ability to electronically sign FOTW using a Federal
Student Aid (FSA) Personal Identification Number (PIN)
• Nine-step organization• Instructions and “help” for certain questions• Skip-logic allowing student and/or parent to skip
unnecessary questions
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FAFSA on the Web
• Built-in edits check for errors prior to submission
• Ability to check application status on-line
• Printable FOTW Worksheet assists in collecting necessary application information
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FAA Access to CPS Online
• Web site: www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/faa/faa.jsp
• To use:
– School must register with ED
– Financial aid administrator must have a FSA PIN
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FAA Access to CPS Online
Allows school to:
• Enter and transmit applicant data to CPS
• Correct applicant data
• Submit student and parent signatures
• Override dependency status
• Calculate estimated EFC
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Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Both parent and student may apply for FSA PIN which can be used as:
• Personal identifier code to access personal information on various FSA electronic systems
• Electronic signature to sign FOTW
• May obtain FSA PIN before or after completing FOTW
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Personal Identification Number
Effective January 1, 2008, students and parents are able to apply for and receive a “real-time” PIN when completing a FAFSA on the Web or when applying for a PIN on the PIN Web site
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Dependency Status
• If dependent, student’s and parents’ financial information is collected and assessed
• If independent, only student’s (and, if applicable, spouse’s) financial information is collected and assessed
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Dependency Status
Dependency status questions
• Student who answers “Yes” to any of the questions is considered independent
• Student who answers “No” to all dependency status questions is dependent
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Student Status
• Information regarding receipt of benefits from federal means-tested benefit programs.
• Determines whether student qualifies for:
– Automatic Zero EFC; or
– Simplified Needs Test (SNT)
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Signing the FAFSA on the Web
Three methods to sign application:
• Electronically using FSA PIN;
• Sign printed copy of signature page; or
• Sign rejected Student Aid Report (SAR)
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Application Signatures
• Application must be dated and signed by:– Student and at least one parent if student is
dependent– Student if the student is independent
• Signing application: Verifies accuracy of data and acknowledges ED authority to verify information reported with other federal agencies
• By signing, student agrees to certifications
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Signing Electronically
If the student and/or parent has a FSA PIN, he or she may sign the application electronically before completing the application or after submitting it for processing
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Signatures
Student and parent (if dependent) may also sign application by:
• Printing, signing, and mailing FOTW signature page to CPS; or
• Signing rejected SAR and returning it to CPS address on SAR
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FAA Access to CPS Online
• Student and parent, if applicable, must sign before school transmits
• Signature page must be maintained in accordance with record retention requirements
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CPS Database Matches
• Social Security Administration (SSA):– SSN
– Master Death File
– U.S. citizenship
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): – Eligible noncitizen status
• Selective Service System: – Registration with Selective Service
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CPS Database Matches
• National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS): Loan defaults, overborrowing, Title IV overpayments, and any unpaid fraudulently obtained Title IV funds
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Verification of veteran status
• Department of Justice Hold File: Title IV suspension or termination due to drug conviction
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EFC Calculations
• Official EFC: Calculated using CPS edits and database matches
• If eligible for SNT, CPS calculates primary and secondary EFCs if asset data provided
– Primary EFC - assets excluded
– Secondary EFC - assets included
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Application Output
Processed application output sent to:
• Student in form of Student Aid Report (SAR) [paper or electronic]
• School in form of Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR)
• Student’s state agency in form of ISIR
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Student Aid Report
• Summarizes information reported on application (paper or electronic)
• Provides processing results including:
– EFC
– Messages related to database matches
– Verification selection
– Eligibility for Title IV aid
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Institutional Student Information Record
Used to:
• Document Title IV eligibility
• Correct or update applicant data
• Perform PJ adjustments, including dependency overrides
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Changing Applicant Data
• Corrections: Changes to incorrect data
• Updates: Changes required for some data items that change after FAFSA was filed
• Adjustments: Changes to applicant data by financial aid administrator using PJ– Dependency override: Adjustment of student’s
status from dependent to independent by FAA using PJ
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Adding Schools
• Adding a school to CPS record is considered a correction
• Student can add schools by:
– Using Corrections on the Web and FSA PIN
– Calling Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 and providing Data Release Number (DRN)
– Submitting correction on paper SAR
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Adding Schools
School can add Federal School Code to CPS record:
• Using FAA Access to CPS Online and student’s DRN
• No later than 30 days after school receives SAR on which it is not listed
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Electronic Corrections
• Students use Corrections on the Web
– http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/complete014.jsp
• Students with a FSA PIN can electronically make and sign corrections
• FSA PIN or signature of dependent’s parent required only if change is made to parental data
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Electronic Corrections
• Schools may make corrections to application data using FAA Access to CPS Online at:
www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/faa/faa.jsp
• Schools identify necessary changes or corrections through verification process or resolution of conflicting information
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Electronic Corrections
• Must collect documentation signed by student and/or parent (if dependent) before making corrections
• All corrections made are in “real-time”
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Updates
• Three items must be updated:– Household size, if selected for verification
– Number in college, if selected for verification
– Dependency status, whenever change occurs, whether or not selected for verification
• Updating not permitted for:– Change in student’s marital status
– Previously certified or originated Stafford Loan
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Dependency Status Override
• Student may be considered independent if unusual circumstances exist
• Decision must be made and documented on case-by-case basis
• Can override dependency status on initial paper application, or after initial application is filed
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